The Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture has created a special exhibit about former Dallas Mayor Erik Jonsson’s visionary leadership of Dallas in the 1960s.

“Dream No Small Dreams: How Erik Jonsson Led Dallas from Tragedy to Triumph in the 1960s” opens Nov. 7 and will tie in to other events commemorating the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. It will run through Aug. 31.

David Biegler, Diane Bumpas, Lynn McBee and Lindalyn Adams are co-chairs of the opening reception Nov. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets for the reception start at $150 and are available by contacting Zac Harmon at zac@oldred.org or 214-745-1100.

“The story of Erik Jonsson and Dallas in the 1960s is one of civic action that pulled the city from depression [following the assassination] and helped it regain the pride and momentum that had been so much a part of its past,” said Biegler, Old Red Museum board chairman. “This exhibit will focus on his extraordinary leadership after the dark days in 1963.”

Erik Jonsson co-founded Texas Instruments Inc., formerly Geophysical Services, in 1951. He was president of TI from 1951 to 1958 and chairman of the board from 1958 to 1966. He was drafted by the City Council to become Dallas mayor less than three months after the assassination.

“Jonsson’s extraordinary vision for Dallas led the city out of these difficult days and catapulted Dallas into progressive growth, forever changing the way the world viewed us,” Biegler said.

As mayor, Jonsson launched — and personally funded — Goals for Dallas. Modeled on the planning process that had helped make TI so successful, Goals for Dallas involved more than 100,000 citizens from all walks of life who helped establish goals and develop plans to better the city. As a result, public schools were air-conditioned, the public library system was expanded, and a new city hall was built. Jonsson was also integral to the creation of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and the University of Texas at Dallas.

The exhibit will examine Jonsson’s career and Dallas in the 1960s through photographs, artifacts, film and audio. It will include Jonsson’s personal memorabilia such as his high school report cards, TI artifacts and his hard hat from the airport groundbreaking.

Southern Methodist University’s DeGolyer Library contributed extensively to the exhibit, and other contributors included Dallas Municipal Archives, the Dallas Public Library, the University of Texas at Dallas and Jonsson family members.

Old Red will host hourlong panel discussions on Nov. 16, 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. A moderator will visit with two or more individuals who knew and worked with Jonsson or who have continued his work in a particular area.

The discussions are free with the price of admission.

Admission to Old Red is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students and $5 for children ages 3 to 16. Children younger than 3 are admitted free, and underground parking is $4. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 100 S. Houston St. in downtown Dallas.

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About Robert Miller

Something people don't know about me: I literally was born on top of the Barnett Shale. (I was born at home in a two-room block house in Parker County.)Most unforgettable experience on the job: Covering the Kennedy assassination (as assistant city editor).The greatest challenge covering business in North Texas: Especially since World War II, Dallas has been like a new frontier, where fortunes and reputations are made at mile-a-minute speed.

Hometown: Dallas since the age of 2; that is, roughly since 1925-26, since my birthday is in late November.

Education: Sunset High School, then freshman and sophomore years at North Texas Agricultural College (a junior branch of Texas A&M at the time). Undergraduate journalism and English degrees at University of Missouri and master’s degree in government at Columbia University in New York (beginning at Mizzou in 1946, all on the GI bill).